** UnitedHealth Group UNH.N reported an "unusual and unacceptable" quarterly earnings miss, leading to a lowered full-year outlook due to higher-than-expected medical costs
** Median PT of 29 brokerages covering the stock is $609 - LSEG data
TREATING MARKET SYMPTOMS
** J.P.Morgan ("overweight") believes co is proactively addressing ongoing challenges, and expects these difficulties to persist throughout the year
** Mizuho ("outperform," PT: $650) sees co's initial medical loss ratio guidance as overly optimistic, not fully accounting for rapid growth and generous plan benefits
** Oppenheimer ("outperform," PT: $600) believes co's company-specific issues, particularly affecting its OptumHealth business due to market exits by major competitors, creating short-term uncertainty until Q2 cost trends are clarified
** Piper Sandler ("overweight," PT: $592) believes co's stability and integrated care delivery assets will support recovery and durable earnings growth by CY26
(Reporting by Rashika Singh in Bengaluru)
((rashika.singh@thomsonreuters.com))
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